Why No Asylum for Iranian Actress Who Converted to Christianity? Death Awaits Her in Iran
News Staff : Jun 9, 2017
CBN News
"I have hope in Jesus; it's just the last hope I have in my life." — Aideen Strandsson
(Iran) — [CBN News] An Iranian actress who left Islam for Christianity has twice been denied asylum in Sweden and could be sent back to Iran where the penalty for conversion includes death. (Screengrab via CBN News)
Aideen Strandsson told CBN News she secretly converted to Christianity while still living in Iran.
"I read the Bible and I understood what Jesus said about peace, about love, about kindness, and in my heart I became a Christian when I was in Iran," she said in an interview with CBN's Dale Hurd.
Three years ago, she moved to Sweden and publicly proclaimed her new faith, but her application for asylum has been denied by government officials and an immigration court.
"They felt that, they don't believe I am in danger and I think that's the reason," she said.
The Islamic regime in Iran persecutes Christians. House churches are raided and closed, and leaders are imprisoned and often beaten and tortured. The regime follows Sharia law, which calls for the death penalty for apostates — those who leave Islam to follow another faith.
"Everybody knows about the situation in Iran and in Islam. In Sharia, converting religions is not acceptable and punishment for this issue is death," Strandsson said.
Her attorneys continue to fight her asylum case, but with two denials Strandsson says her situation is dangerous.
"I don't know what will happen to me, I know the punishment for me in Iran is death ... I think Jesus will help me. I face deportation and I don't know what will happen, just I have hope in Jesus, it's just the last hope I have in my life."
CBN News